Epilepsy and getting my license back.

Linman4

Hi, I’m 23 years old and lost my driving license last year, it has caused me to loose my job and has seriously effected my mental health over the year. I have just re applied, after a very long winded form. Does anyone know what questions they will ask my GP? And how long it will take ? I sent it first class today. I spoke to someone at DVLA on the phone and they said ur once they receive my application they will send a questionnaire out to my GP. Am I allowed to be there whilst he completes it ? Any help much appreciated, thank you !

AdrianC

I presume you've read this...?
https://www.gov.uk/epilepsy-and-driving

Obviously, having a seizure while driving would be... less than ideal. Quite possibly fatal - if not for you, for those around you.

That's why you need to be seizure-free for at least six months, maybe a year, before getting your licence back - depending on the circumstances. And that's what they're going to be asking your GP about.
Assuming you really are fit to be behind the wheel again, there's nothing to worry about.
If you aren't, then...

lemondrops69

My friend had to be fit free for a year, however they did have one when driving! Thankfully it was in town and they had just stopped at a crossing and someone spotted it and manged to get in the car and stop it. I just imagine what would have happened if they had a fit 15 minutes earlier as they were on a duel carriage way then. Never had a fit before and only two ever again. They are on tablets now, but was a year after the last fit they got their licence back. All paperwork was between DVLA and doctors IIRC once they applied for their licence back but had to be renewed annually for a few years. As Adrian said the doc's need to make sure you are fit, not the other way around

[Deleted User]

 I've got epilepsy, could get my license back if i wanted but as far as im concerned its not worth the risk. I dont want to kill someone. 

 That aside be prepared to wait months, like 6 plus and they are more likely to speak to your neurologist who wont consult you 

onomatopoeia99

AdrianC said:

Obviously, having a seizure while driving would be... less than ideal.

My experience as the passenger in a car being driven by someone who had a seizure while driving in the outside lane of the M5 at about 90mph would concur with your assessment, it certainly was less than ideal. 

I managed to grab the wheel and steer it across the traffic to the hard shoulder - I have absolutely no idea to this day if I actually looked to check the lanes where clear as I did this - knock it out of gear and stop it with the handbrake, then call 999.  I thought he'd had heart attack as I had no idea about the epilepsy.  Only found out when I called his girlfriend on his phone (I didn't even own a mobile then) while I was waiting for the ambulance and trying to stop him in his disoriented state getting out of the car into the oncoming traffic and she told me.

Not an experience I ever care to repeat.  He had to be seizure free for a year before he could get his licence back.

wild666

When I had my fit I never surrendered my licence I just made sure I didn't have a fit for 12 months, that was 1999. After my stroke in December 2018 I never renewed my licence although it expired in Oct 2018. I don't want to drive again.